Gorbachev's policies and collapse of the USSR

Question 1

what were Gorbachev’s goals?

Answer 1

initially he proposed economic reform
late 1980’s he embraced political reform
1990 he tried to reform the nature of the Union

Question 2

what was Gorbachev’s ‘new thinking’?

Answer 2

based on a new language of politics - undermined the USSR
used ‘perestroika’ instead of ‘reform’ as it was associated with Khrushchev’s failures

Question 3

Gorbachev’s ‘new leadership’

Answer 3

replaced local leaders in the republics with his Russian supporters
soviet citizens did not like this and supported nationalist leaders un response

Question 4

Gorbachev’s perestroika

Answer 4

‘restructuring’
went through a series of phases
- acceleration - led to decline in economic growth
- glasnost - exposed the crimes of previous soviet government
- market reform weakened the CP and economy

Question 5

Gorbachev’s resistance to violence

Answer 5

soviet leaders had previously relied on violence
Gorbachev reduced the emphasis on violence - weakened parts ability

Question 6

respecting individual rights

Answer 6

weakened party power to repress opposition

Question 7

consequences of Gorbachev’s reforms

Answer 7

economic chaos
decline in faith in CP and the USSR